Netanyahu invites multinational teams to join regional emergency force

Netanyahu is inviting countries around the world to join a regional emergency service force in the wake of the devastating wildfires that recently spread throughout Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the growth of a joint emergency service force founded by Israel, Greece and Cyprus at a trilateral summit in Jerusalem with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

“We have agreed to move forward on a multi-national, regional rescue and emergency services force, to be formed by our three countries – Israel, Greece and Cyprus,” Netanyahu announced. “However, we would like to add other countries to the joint command center for emergencies such as fires, earthquakes, floods and others.”

“We want to plan the structure of the force and share this mission among the various countries, which would greatly help security and assuring the lives of the citizens of all countries here in the region as well as in other countries,” he added.

The initiative to form a regional emergency response force was apparently driven and inspired by the significant level of support provided to Israel from Cyprus, Greece and several others countries in the battle against the wildfires that raged throughout the country recently.

“These summits afford us the opportunity to create more areas of cooperation for the benefit of all our peoples,” remarked Netanyahu.

“A few days ago we had the help of firefighters from Cyprus and from Greece,” he continued. “When you had recent fires in Cyprus, we sent our planes. This is a concrete example of how cooperation actually saves lives.”

Thursday’s summit in Jerusalem was the second trilateral meeting this year between Israel, Greece and Cyprus. In January, the three leaders met in the Cypriot city of Nicosia to discuss a number of joint projects, particularly in the energy and water sectors. They plan on meeting once again next year in Thessaloniki, Greece.   

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News